New York's John F. Kennedy (JFK) airport is one of the most well-known airports in the world and handles more international traffic than any other airport in North America, which makes it an easy target for theft. A recent series of thefts at the airport has ended with Frederick McDonald of Far Rockaway, N.Y pleading guilty to grand larceny in connection to six thefts. The 46 year old faces three to six years in prison.
Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said to The Associated Press, "Traveling through the airports is stressful enough these days without having to worry that if you turn your back for a moment a thief who is lurking about will steal your luggage. This is exactly how the defendant operated - snatching luggage filled with thousands of dollars in cash, electronics and other valuables as soon as the victimized passengers were distracted."
The thefts took palce between September 2011 and February 2012 throughout various terminals and travelers lost a number of valuable things including computers, money and electriconic equipment. McDonald had already been convicted several times for thefts at the airport. Prosecutors said that he targeted busy and distracted travelers including one purchasing a ticket and another paying a taxi driver.
McDonald also once pretended to be a JetBlue porter. Offering to help a woman with her luggage cart, he stole her cart when she helped her 5-year-old son who fell. He took off with her iPad, camera, passports and $6,000 cash.
In one incident, authorities said McDonald stole a briefcase with a computer and $4,000 in it while its owner was paying a taxi driver. In another incident, McDonald pretended to be an airline porter and offered to help a woman push her luggage cart. When the woman's 5-year-old son fell and she turned to him, McDonald stole the cart, authorities said. The passenger lost an iPad, $6,000, a camera and passports.
He is scheduled for sentencing on August 15.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
